Rice Lake Simulators User Manual

Ranger Series

Load Cell Simulators

Operation Manual

105354 Rev A

Contents

Technical training seminars are available through Rice Lake Weighing Systems.
Course descriptions and dates can be viewed at www.ricelake.com/training
or obtained by calling 715-234-9171 and asking for the training department.

1.0 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1

2.0 Ranger Simulators 1, 3 and 5 Operation ........................................................................................ 3

2.1 Sample Calculations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3.0 Ranger 7 Simulator Operation ........................................................................................................ 6

3.1 Standard Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3.1.1 Switches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3.1.2 Toggle Switch Load Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3.1.3 EXC LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3.1.4 To Simulate a Larger Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3.2 Offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

3.3 Variable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

3.3.1 Coarse Control Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

3.3.2 Fine Variable Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

4.0 Troubleshooting With a Simulator.................................................................................................. 8

5.0 Product Specifications ................................................................................................................... 9

Limited Warranty....................................................................................................................................... 10

 Rice Lake Weighing Systems. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

Specifications subject to change without notice.

Rice Lake Weighing Systems is an ISO 9001 registered company.

February 13, 2014

Contents i

ii Ranger Series Operation Manual

Rice Lake continually offers web-based video training on a growing selection
of product-related topics at no cost. Visit www.ricelake.com/webinars.

1.0 Introduction

The Rice Lake Weighing Systems Ranger load cell simulators are precision instruments designed to provide
millivolt level signals for testing, calibration and troubleshooting strain gage instrumentation and systems.
Accuracy and stability are obtained through the use of a “Star Bridge” circuit comprised of four temperature stable,
precision resistors.

Rice Lake Weighing Systems offers four models of the Ranger Series S

imulators.

Figure 1-1. Ranger 1, 3 and 5 Simulators

Features

Ranger 1:

• Bridge impedance of 700 ohms

• 10-turn continuously variable output from 0 to

Ranger 3:

• Bridge impedance of 350 ohms

• Nine calibrated outputs - eight 0.5 mV/V steps from -0.5
step. The -0.5 and +4.5 mV/V settings are useful for performing A/D offset and gain calibrations in Rice
Lake indicators.

Ranger 5:

• This has the same features as the Ranger 3 with the addition of a 3-range, 10-turn locking vernier

These three Ranger Series Simulators connect
accept standard banana plugs or up to 14 gauge wire.

using binding posts color coded to the ISA S37.8 standard, and will

3 mV/V.

mV/V to 3.0 mV/V and an additional +4.5 mV/V

.

Introduction 1